Squirrels store…

What do squirrels store up for winter if there are very few nuts in an area? Good number of squirrels in my yard, one oak tree close, one pecan 4 houses away. What are they going to store up?

Good question. I don't know other than I just watched a red squirrel the other day climb up to a branch about 25ft up and hang a dried mushroom. I find quite a few drying or dried mushrooms here and there in bushes and branches. I imagine they are hiding things all summer but I don't really know for sure. Another red squirrel was harvesting the white cedar seed bundles  for a few weeks until they were all gone. Eating some for sure but hauling lots away too.

I had quite a few black walnuts sprouting in my driveway this summer. I didn't want them so I was going to pull them up but by the time I got around to it the squirrels already dug them up, chewed off the spout and ate the rest!

The only time I've found a cache was the year my muffler was filled with acorns. That was chipmunks though.

I always have a laugh when a big wind comes through and all the stuff the squirrels stashed in the trees gets knocked out.

Mushrooms are the most noticeable. They also steal crabapples -- especially if I have sliced them up and left them outside to dry. And sunflower heads. My old joke is that squirrels stash the stuff you would add to a squirrel stew someday.

My red squirrels also stash spruce cones. And compete with the Blue Jays for beaked hazelnuts.

There's usually a thinning of the herd once a year when they seriously annoy me. So all their loot goes to other local fauna. Or is propagated far and wide perhaps.